Page 2 – CASEL District Resource Guide

Culture and Climate:

School climate is the “quality and character of school life” based on how members of the school community experience school and the school’s “norms, goals, values, interpersonal relationships, teaching, learning and leadership practices, and organizational structures” (Reference: National School Climate Council).

11-20 of 40 Results

Title	Document Type
DRC Resources
Guiding Principles – A Resource Guide for Improving School Climate and Discipline These guiding principles from the U.S. Department of Education are organized around concepts of creating positive school climate, providing evidence-based supports, promoting social and emotional learning, providing training on positive engagement with students and equitable practices, and adopting an instructional approach to school discipline. SOURCE: United States DOE TAGS alternatives to suspension anti-bias student discipline
Schoolwide Observation Tool for Climate, Classroom Management, and Instruction Washoe County's 1 page tool for recording observations about how SEL is present in the school and classroom environment, instruction, and interactions, and a sample activity for debriefing observations in a circle setting. SOURCE: Washoe County School District TAGS SEL and Academic Integration classroom management model SEL schools school visit/observation tool classroom level culture and climate professional learning
Chicago Public Schools Student Voice Committees Student Voice Committees (SVCs) are designed to form crucial student-adult partnerships to help address the issues schools and students are facing. Through engaging students in the decision making process, SVCs seek to improve school culture and climate and develop youth leadership skills. SOURCE: Chicago Public Schools TAGS student leadership youth voice
Oakland’s Leadership Growth and Development System Principal Handbook Handbook detailing each dimension of the principal evaluation framework, with categories including "Leadership for Healthy Relationships and Culture" and "Leadership for Equity". SOURCE: Oakland Unified School District TAGS board policies human and financial resource alignment equity culture and climate integrate with district priorities SEL leadership
Washington’s SEL Online Education Modules Washington's 5 online modules for educators (intro, embedding SEL schoolwide, adult professional culture, culturally responsive classroom integration, and selecting evidence-based programs). Free registration required. SOURCE: Washington DOE TAGS videos culturally responsive teacher training SEL overview evidence-based programs instructional practices culture and climate professional learning
Metro Nashville Public Schools: Integrating Social, Emotional, and Academic Development (video) Part of Edutopia's larger feature on Nashville, this video provides an overview of the district's approach to supporting all schools to integrate SEL into school culture and instruction. SOURCE: Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools TAGS SEL and Academic Integration videos model SEL schools building buy-in for SEL
TransformEd’s SEL Integration Approach for Classroom Educators (infographic) Transforming Education's SEL integration framework infographic offers guidance on how to integrate SEL into everyday classroom culture, curriculum, and activities. By focusing on six key components of this approach, educators can support students in developing stronger social-emotional skills in meaningful, transferable, and equitable ways. SOURCE: Transforming Education TAGS SEL and Academic Integration teacher tool instructional practices classroom level
Michigan’s Free Online SEL Training The Michigan Department of Education in partnership with Michigan Virtual offers 5 self-paced courses (available to all but credit awarded only to MDE certificate holders) including an introduction to SEL, culturally responsive classrooms, embedding SEL schoolwide, creating professional culture based on SEL, and trauma-informed support. SOURCE: Michigan DOE TAGS Adult SEL trauma culturally responsive professional learning
Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain discussion guide This discussion facilitator's guide, ideal for use with a small book study group, provides opening activities, discussion questions, and bridge activities for each chapter of Zaretta Hammond's book Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain. Through reflection, collaboration, and continuous improvement strategies, this guide provides an opportunity for staff to interrogate their own instructional practice to find ways to be responsive to students' culture and identities. TAGS cultural competence reading lists - staff equity culturally responsive professional learning
Oregon’s Transformative Social and Emotional Learning Framework & Standards Oregon's Transformative SEL Framework and Standards provide intentional focus on the social and emotional elements of learning, teaching, and cultivating affirming school culture through a transformative approach. SOURCE: Oregon DOE TAGS SEL standards equity

DRC Resources